New food labels that tell you exactly how and where to store your products will soon be launched across the nation.

The new system hopes to cut back on the two million tonnes of food thrown away each year in the UK.

Starting in 2018, many manufacturers and supermarkets will switch their labels to clear up confusion surrounding food expiration.

The labels include text along with logos, which can be easily interpreted by the customer.

It is not compulsory for retailers to implement these changes set out by sustainability experts WRAP, who have campaigned for the changes with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Defra.

The organisation is calling for the freezing snowflake logo to be reinstated where it might have been removed.

WRAP also wants to introduce a new little blue fridge icon for foods that should be kept chilled, or can benefit from being kept in the fridge, The Mirror reported.

Environment Minister, Thérèse Coffey said: “We know that confusing labels can contribute to food waste by suggesting that edible items need to be thrown away sooner than is necessary.

"This new guidance will make packaging much clearer for consumers, saving them money and reducing waste."

Marcus Gover, CEO at WRAP added: "A key way to help reduce household food waste is to give people as long as possible to use the food they buy. Labelling information can help with many aspects of this.

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"Telling people clearly how long a product can be consumed once opened, and giving consistent and simple information about storing and freezing, will help people keep their food fresher for longer, and give more options to freeze the food and use it later- rather than binning food that could have been eaten."

Increasing the use of ‘Best Before’ dates is important as foods carrying this date label can be redistributed, even after the date has passed as long as the food is still fit to eat, while ‘Use By’ items cannot.

Heather Hancock, of the Food Standards Agency, said: "I welcome this clear guidance to help tackle food waste, without compromising the safety of food. It will help businesses supply food that is properly described and stored, and safely provided to consumers. Reducing food waste is really important to consumers."

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WRAP estimates that technical changes to packaging and labelling identified in its Retailer Survey could help cut around 350,000 tonnes of household food waste a year by 2025, saving shoppers around £1 billion a year in wasted food.

What's actually changing?

Retailers providing clear written storage advice supported with symbols/graphics. For example, using the 'little blue fridge' icon described above.

Giving clearer temperature advice for chilled foods. WRAP says storing food in the fridge at the correct temperature can add an average three days to its life.

Using the 'snowflake' logo where products are suitable for freezing, with clear instructions to "freeze by date mark shown" or "freeze as soon as possible".

Putting'use by' dates on food only where necessary for safety. This could be, for example, with meat. Otherwise 'best before' dates will be used.

Including only one date label on any one product. So there should be no separate 'display until' and 'use by' dates on the same item.

Giving people the longest possible time to consume food. This involves maximising food's 'open' and 'closed' lifespan (referring to the shelf-life before opening, and once it has been opened).

Applying 'use within x days' advice for food which has been opened only where absolutely necessary. However, consumers may need to know where food will deteriorate in quality once unwrapped, so they can use it before that happens.

Getting your facts straight

Firstly – this is what the labels really mean:

Best Before: Foods with a 'best before' date should be safe to eat after the 'best before' date, but they may no longer be at their best.

Use by: These dates refer to safety. Food can be eaten up to the end of this date but not after even if it looks and smells fine.

Sell by/Display until: These dates are for shop staff not for shoppers. Ignore entirely.

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What should be stored in the fridge?

Eggs – kept in their box.

Apples and oranges

Tomatoes – should be kept in their packaging until ready for use.

What shouldn't go in the fridge

Potatoes – store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, in original packaging.

Bananas – store in a cool, dry place, and keep them in their original packaging if sold in a bag.

Onions – store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, and keep in their original packaging if sold in a bag.

Pineapples – store in a cool, dry place.

Bread – store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and once opened, reseal bag to keep it fresher for longer.